Hiking by Category:

Hiking Trails on the West Side of Rocky Mountain National Park

Baker Pass

5.75 miles

Elev. Gain 2389 ft

Baker Pass in the Never Summer Range crosses the Continental Divide into the Michigan River drainage to the west of Mount Nimbus. It can be reached by either the Baker Gulch trail, or from just before Parika Lake by contouring NE to the Pass.

Parika Lake

5 miles

Elev. Gain 2496 ft

Parika Lake lies outside of the park boundary and is one of the classic tundra lake hikes.

Bowen Lake

7 miles

Elev. Gain 2160 ft

A long, gradual climb through thick forest to the lake.

Bowen Pass

7.5 miles

Elev. Gain 2596 ft

Bowen Pass is part of the Arapaho National Forest, and is a steep, short hike from Bowen Lake.

Little Yellowstone

5.1 miles

Elev. Gain 1021 ft

This area has unique geological features, and resembles the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

LuLu City

3.7 miles

Elev. Gain 350 ft

Follows a gentle grade to the site of the old 1880's gold mining camp of Lulu City. Not much remains now, but this historic area is written up in a trail booklet available at visitor centers for a nominal price. Keep an eye out for moose. Makes a gentle ski tour in the winter.

La Poudre Pass

7.4 miles

Elev. Gain 1501 ft

Heads north, following the Colorado River to the Lulu City site. .9 mile beyond is the Little Yellowstone trail that heads to Poudre Pass near the north boundary of the Park, the Neota Wilderness, and Long Draw reservoir. 2 backcountry sites.

Lake of the Clouds

6.9 miles

Elev. Gain 2440 ft

This trail offers a barren and rocky landscape, and the last section is difficult to access. 2 backcountry sites.

Once used by stage coaches, Thunder Pass is now an excellent trail, with the Michigan Lakes beyond it a must see.

Coyote Valley

1 miles

Elev. Gain 0 ft

Kawuneeche, the Arapaho word for coyote, was the name given to this gentle valley of the Upper Colorado River. he trail follows the bank of the Colorado River with views of the Never Summer Mountains. Look for moose (especially during the early morning and early evening hours), songbirds and wildflowers. Features educational exhibits along the trail. Accessible. Strollers permitted. Picnic tables. In the winter, an easy choice to test those skis or snowshoes.

The most popular walk in the Grand Lakes region - a short and easy stroll thru aspen and lodgepole pine forest, passing beautiful out-croppings of grey-black rock and river scenery. Watch for an early morning rainbow shining through the falls spray. More on Adams Falls trail...

Lake Verna

13.8 miles

Elev. Gain 1809 ft

The East Inlet Trail leads to Lone Pine Lake and subalpine forest before reaching the soggy ground around Lake Verna. 2 backcountry sites.

Lone Pine Lake

11 miles

Elev. Gain 1494 ft

Lone Pine Lake is past East Inlet meadows and Adams Falls on the East Inlet trail. The lake contains a rock island that once housed a single lodgepole pine in a crack. 3 backcountry sites near the lake.

Shadow Mountain Lookout

4.8 miles

Elev. Gain 1533 ft

This trail ends at the Shadow Mountain Fire Lookout, which is on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Big Meadows

3.2 miles

Elev. Gain 1110 ft

The Onahu, Tonahutu, and Green Mountain trails intersect to form a circle route with a few steep sections of short duration. Big Meadows is a sea of grasses and wild flowers rimmed by hills. 3 backcountry sites.

The entire Continental Divide National Scenic Trail corridor is approximately 3,100 miles (4,988 kilometers) long, from the Canadian border in Montana to the border of Mexico in New Mexico, ranging from 4,000 ft to over 13,000 ft in elevation. The 30 miles of trail looping through RMNP pass through beautiful alpine tundra and scenery. 17 backcountry sites. More on the Continental Divide trail...

Flattop Mountain (from Green Mountain)

10.3 miles

Elev. Gain 3530 ft

Flattop Mountain can be accessed from either side of the Park, thus provides a cross-park route from Estes Park to Grand Lake.

Haynach Lakes

8.3 miles

Elev. Gain 2286 ft

Long, beautiful hike on a trail mostly used by backpackers. Llamas allowed, but no other stock. 3 backcountry sites.

Valley Trail

5.5 miles

Elev. Gain -192 ft

Easy loop through the Kawuneechee Valley.

Cascade Falls

3.5 miles

Elev. Gain 300 ft

A wide, roaring waterfall with great picnic spots on the flat rocks. The trail passes through lodgepole pines and follows North Inlet Creek.

Tonahutu Creek Trail

13 miles

Elev. Gain 3618 ft

Branches south off of the Green Mountain trail through Big Meadows, and connects to the Kawuneeche VC.

Lake Nanita

11 miles

Elev. Gain 2240 ft

Spur trail off the CDT to a high mountain lake at the base of Andrews Peak.

Lake Nokoni

9.9 miles

Elev. Gain 2240 ft

Lake Nokoni is a glacial tarn surrounded by beautiful landscape, including great wildflowers.

North Inlet Falls

7.6 miles

Elev. Gain 1000 ft

Pass through Summerland Park and North Inlet Meadow on the way to the falls. Cascade Falls is 3.5 miles up this trail.

Green Mountain

2 miles

Elev. Gain 1519 ft

The Green Mountain Trail once was a wagon road used to haul hay from Big Meadows. Summit of Green Mtn is at 10,313 ft.

Timber Lake

4.8 miles

Elev. Gain 2060 ft

The hike to Timber Lake travels through dense forest and crosses several creeks, and uses the flank of Jackstraw Mountain. The rugged terrain of the lake hides the summit of Mount Ida. 5 backcountry sites along the Timber Lake trail.